Harry Redknapp is likely to ring the changes for this cup tie, leaving out many of the side that has performed so well in the league and giving the new faces a chance to show him what they are capable of in a competitive match. A few players still finding fitness should also feature in this game. For what it's worth I think Dean Kiely will start in goal with a back four of Taylor, O'Brien, Duffy and Pamarot. Rudolphe Douala, Niko Kranjcar and Manuel Fernandes could all be handed their Pompey debuts and my guess would be that Ognjen Koroman or David Thompson plays in the midfield with them. Andy Cole should also make his first start in a Pompey shirt alongside Lomana Lua Lua who is not quite 100% fit yet.
There is slight concern that this game will be regarded as a fitness boosting exercise but we must remember that this could be a tricky tie despite the Mansfield manager claiming the game to be an inconvenience to his plans. Even so his players will relish coming up against Premiership quality opposition and should put in maximum effort into this game and make it very difficult for us.
Don't forget that last time Harry Redknapp took a side to Field Mill they ended up losing, even if they were complete tripe and ended up a laughing stock for the umpteenth time. Mind you Pompey fans weren't exactly laughing that day either after a pathetic and embarassing defeat to Gillingham and we must make sure that such result doesn't happen again!
Mansfield currently lie 16th in League Two and to be honest I don't know much about them other than my brief spell in charge of the club on "LMA Manager 2005" after I was sacked from Dagenham and Redbridge and took over at the midlands club when Colin Larkin was banging them in for me. Back to reality and Larkin has moved on although midfielder Matthew Hamshaw and striker Richie Barker could well be a danger to our goal. Mansfield will not be a walkover at home despite struggling with injuries however as long as we avoid complacency and injuries we have enough quality to win this game comfortably.
The Carling Cup is a realistic chance of some silverware this season, so getting over this hurdle will set us in good stead on our journey to possible glory this season. Just don't screw it up like last season Pompey....